The real test of leadership is in the choice between two rights
I have found myself in this position of impossible choices many times in my life before, both professionally and personally, as would have most of you. But the current situation with the SARS CoV2 outbreak is different, even more so, if you are leading a healthcare services organization like ours. On one hand, we have a responsibility towards our profession, patients, communities and the country; and on the other, we need to be sensitive towards the fears and apprehensions of our own employees, who are healthcare workers, and their families.
At Dr Lal PathLabs, we have 200+ labs, 2500+ collection points and 6500+ sample pick up points. Over 4500 employees support and drive operations at these locations. They not only perform the duty of collecting samples and testing but also manage patient anxiety, even while managing their own anxiety.
Understandably, many of our staff members are also dealing with the anxieties of their families. In the current times of crisis, even financial incentives don’t work. Recently, one of our lab employees shared with me that he had been asked to vacate the house where he was residing as a tenant. This situation has put his family in immense distress. While many of us in corporate office have roles that can be performed from home, the role that he and other front line staff like phlebotomists, lab technicians, logistics staff and doctors perform, can’t be.
While most have the option to choose to stay home, my team, especially lab staff and field staff, are not even expressing the desire of working from home. They realize their sense of duty, I salute all of them!
In times of crisis, the captain can’t jump the ship. Given that we have so many operating units, each unit head is the captain of his/her own ship. Times like these make you realize the sacrifices one makes in unprecedented and uncertain times like these.
Today, I salute all the doctors, paramedics and all other healthcare workers and express my gratitude!
